Bill Tieleman is one of BC's best known communicators, political commentators and strategists.
Bill is a political panelist regularly on CBC Radio and TV in BC and with other media.
Bill has been Communications Director in the B.C. Premier's Office and at the BC Federation of Labour.
Bill owns West Star Communications, a consulting firm providing strategy and communication services for labour, business, non-profits and government.

A squad of veteran warriors is increasingly unnerved as their leader takes them into more and more deadly territory, to disarm massively destructive bombs that could easily kill them all.

As pressure mounts, the veterans even contemplate blowing up their leader to save themselves -- before it's too late.

But rather than being Kathryn Bigelow's Academy Award-winning best picture about U.S. soldiers in Iraq led by a talented but reckless bomb disposal expert, welcome to Premier Gordon Campbell's own Hurt Locker.

And the political improvised explosive devices Campbell and his B.C. Liberal team must defuse were not laid by clever enemy insurgents but were left there by themselves.

A new poll shows how politically deadly British Columbia now is -- Angus Reid Public Opinion found that 66 per cent of respondents believe a new government should replace the B.C. Liberals; that 49 per cent have a worsened view of Campbell over the last three months; that 60 per cent disapprove of his recent budget -- including 24 per cent of B.C. Liberal voters; and that more people have confidence in New Democrat leader Carole James to find "the right solutions for the B.C. economy" than Campbell.

The poll shows the NDP leading the B.C. Liberals by 43 per cent to 35 per cent, with the Green Party at 13 per cent and the B.C. Conservatives for the first time at 6 per cent.

Ouch -- but the hurt keeps coming.

The Harmonized Sales Tax is still hated by a whopping 77 per cent of British Columbians a full three months before it's imposed; only 12 per cent believe Finance Minister Colin Hansen's ridiculous claim that all HST revenue will go to health care; and therefore, not surprisingly, 66 per cent think Campbell is more interested in his political career than what's best for B.C.

More danger ahead

But when you see where the B.C. Liberal bomb squad is heading, you wonder whether Campbell's leadership will soon come to an explosive ending.

On May 3, the long-awaited B.C. Legislature Raid corruption trial of former B.C. Liberal government aides David Basi, Bob Virk and Aneal Basi starts, running to June 30.

On July 1 the extra seven per cent Harmonized Sales Tax is imposed on hundreds of goods and services previously only subject to the five per cent GST. From food in restaurants to airline tickets, gym memberships, new homes over $525,000, haircuts, movies and plays, home repairs and renovations; it all gets whacked.

And also on July 1 the B.C. Liberals add another one cent a litre to the price of gasoline and other fuels with the latest hike in their carbon tax.

Does anyone doubt that on November 15 -- the first day allowed by Elections B.C. -- there will recall campaigns launched against individual B.C. Liberal MLAs?

Where's Premier Campbell?

All of the above may be one reason why previously invisible Campbell cabinet ministers are suddenly appearing in the media to build profile for a possible leadership run -- and perhaps take out the leader before he does them all in.

You can't turn on the television in the past few weeks without seeing Public Safety Minister Kash Heed. From snowmobilers causing avalanches to graduated licenses for motorcyclists to cell phone use in cars, Kash heeds the call to say something to the media.

Then Mike de Jong weighs in on the need to put television cameras in B.C. courts -- after nine years of the administration ignoring the idea.

Gee Mike, which trial do you think the public would really like to watch on TV when it starts -- the Basi-Virk case perhaps? And who would be hurt the most -- Gordon Campbell?

So the B.C. Liberal Hurt Locker watch is now on. Stand by for casualties. This will get very ugly.

21 comments:

DPL
said...

Gordo has managed to lie his way out of lots of things in his time in politics. Most of us won't soon forget his tearful performance after being caught driving drunk. Let that be a lesson to those folks who believed him, as he will say and do just about anything to stay in power.

The only people that have a lot of respect for numbnut Campbell are those that push the free enterprise concept. They can't believe how lucky they are to have somebody this stupid and corrupt filling their pockets. Organized crime is on the upswing in the corporate and private sector The only thing keeping a lot of them out of jail are high priced lawyers. Once again, why can't this Liberal government be charged with TREASON or has free trade taken care of that?

Who's left? "Larry" Hanson? "Curly" Coleman? "Moe" Dejong? "Krusty" Penner? Kevin "Freddy" Krueger?? I don't see anyone with more than 3 brain cells wanting to take over the wheel while the not - so - good ship liberal heads for the rocks. Same poop, different pile - time to take out the trash.If those lumps were a car, it would be a write off, well beyond repair.I'll just keep my list of liberal donors at hand to know who to boycott.

How can a polictian like Gordon Campbell who has lied so often to the electorate be elected three consecutive times? Are the people of B.C. so dumb that they can't see what devestation he has done and continues to do to this wonderful province. It is almost breathtaking at the ease in which is able escape from his inexcusable behavior and contemptable attitude towards those less fortunate in our society.

Everyone here seems to be so puzzled about how Campbell and his BC Liberals can hold on to power and get away with so much dirt.

Well if a tree falls in the forest and no one hears it, did it ever really fall?

In BC we have no one to report to the masses on anything of substance.

All we have had in news from CBC, CTV, CanWest/Global for the last four years is a feel-good "BELIEVE" message from a bunch of 2010 Olympic Pimps.

And for an Official Opposition, we have gutless under-achievers with a mentally challenged so-called-leader who collect a salary from the public for doing nothing.

Finally we have the people of BC, a collection of DO-NOTHING eco-phoneys, puck-heads and recreational substance abusers who are too distracted from the real world to do anything but bitch and drink beer.

So in the end BC has brought all of this evil on itself and deserves to suffer . . . HA HA!

I just heard you in your roll as the BC Liberal Governments Attorney General on the CBC noon show extolling the virtues of having TV cameras in our court rooms.

I phoned in and told you that it was a great idea and that you should implement the idea immediately starting with the BC rail Corruption Trial that is scheduled to go on May the 3, 2010. I also mentioned that you could use the Air India Trial Court room it is already wired up with cameras ready to go.

I didn’t get the time to mention the trial of a former Liberal Attorney General that is coming up just after the BC Rail thing concerning a land deal. That would make for interesting viewing also.

I have been following this debacle for six years and have come to the conclusion that the BC judicial system is at best deeply flawed and at worst corrupt, the latter being the most probable. Cameras could change my mind.

So what’s to stop you from doing this? If you were to run this by the legislature in the next 20 sitting days I am positive the opposition would jump at the chance of making BC history and help vote it in.

Ding Dongs TV crusade is something that is laid out on a silver platter for all of those who visit this blog along with its author Bill Tillman.

De Jong has been in the newspapers and on CBC extolling the virtues of his latest and greatest idea, COURT ROOM TV and allowing the people of BC to see just how screwed our so called judicial system is.

It seems almost everyone on this blog likes to piss and moan about Gordo and his goons.

This is a golden opportunity to email de Jong and tell him what a great ides the TV thing is and to make it happen as soon as possible.

Email all of the NDP opposition and tell them this is something laid out on their lap by no other than the Attorney General of BC and to get off their butts and run with it.They could stand up every day of the current sitting and put a motion on the floor that they support the Attorney Generals initiative and to implement it immediately.

There are court rooms already wired and ready to roll so we all can watch the upcoming May 3 BC Rail Corruption Trial and the soon after former Attorney General of BCs trial on a land deal gone bad.

Every MLAs email is on the Government web site. Do something instead of bitching.

This may all be true but Bill you are still an NDP hack with enough baggage of your own in the closet. Not only do we need to clean out the three political parties, we also need to clean out the old media hacks who can't write objectively anymore. Bill, you re the reporter not the story. You know, the old golden rule.

And for the record, I have always appreciated the old Tommy Douglas NDP days. You know, the ones which this opposition doesn't resemble in the least. Time to wipe the slate clean and start over.

But then again what would we know because people like yourself are the experts. Why do we know this? Because you keep telling us.

You see Bill, when you were working for the NDP you played many of the same roles that you accuse the Liberals of.

Mr Tieleman, if you wish to use a clip, still or poster from the Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc., Turner Entertainment Co., Castle Rock Entertainment, New Line Cinema (including Picturehouse and Fine Line) or Hanna Barbera Feature, Television and animation libraries, all requests must be submitted in writing by fax or mail. We at Warner Brother own the rights to Hurt Locker which you have been using on your website and blog illegally.

So Tieleman, you have no problems breaking no law as long as it suits you. You are worst than a politician since you try and hide yourself as being a good person. So lame. It's people like you that sends the wrong message to the public and now simply ignores anything you say.

I hear there is a class action against the CRA, seems they have used Nazi tactics, terrorized the aged and the poor. Have stolen billions from the tax payers. There was a program on W-5. about their scamming. There is supposed to be a petition coming up, to dissolve Revenue Canada. There is the sound of, angry African bees, where ever you go. There is more buzzing about, the Federal M.P's getting a boost to their gold plated pensions. Stinging mad about, Harper, giving the wealthiest corporations, banks, gas and oil company's and such, millions of dollars. There is no recession for the big shots, just for the peons.

I have never got an answer to this question. The Federal Government, gives millions to, banks, large corporations, gas and oil company's. I would like to know why? Is this also true, the BC Liberal party does the same?

I think Campbell and Hansen, knew they wouldn't get away with the HST. The budget, is another rip off, and just as bad as the HST, even worse. With the lunatic budget, he pays no reimbursements. The HST, he does, this is a considerable gain, for the gruesome twosome. The poor get nailed, no matter what. Could this be possible?

I think Campbell and Hansen, knew they wouldn't get away with the HST. The budget, is another rip off, and just as bad as the HST, even worse. With the lunatic budget, he pays no reimbursements. The HST, he does, this is a considerable gain, for the gruesome twosome. The poor get nailed, no matter what. Could this be possible?

This whole mess is a contrived rip off and yet the people do nothing. In Ireland they allow the politicians to overtly thieve, display the booty and brag about it. They have 4 million people and 1.2 trillion in debt. They can never pay the debt off! People on the street were asked if they cared. They said nope. Paying taxes was like a sin. If you pay taxes you agree with the theft because then it comes out of your pocket.

What happens when we hit 30% unemployment because people can't afford to work. Would you work if you knew you were going to lose your house and car and end up not being able to work in the end? Lot's of people will go down fighting but many more will turn to the underground economy. If taxes are equated to standard of living through the things those taxes are supposed to provide then we are taking a huge step backwards.

Sure the fat cat who is fingered as the point man that stared all this will go to jail for fraud but not a penny will be returned. This isn't just lending fraud it is a fraud on all the people of the world.

The only solution is default and I suspect the Greeks will start it. Canadians have no balls to do what needs to be done.

I think Campbell and Hansen, knew they wouldn't get away with the HST. The budget, is another rip off, and just as bad as the HST, even worse. With the lunatic budget, he pays no reimbursements. The HST, he does, this is a considerable gain, for the gruesome twosome. The poor get nailed, no matter what. Could this be possible?

This whole mess is a contrived rip off and yet the people do nothing. In Ireland they allow the politicians to overtly thieve, display the booty and brag about it. They have 4 million people and 1.2 trillion in debt. They can never pay the debt off! People on the street were asked if they cared. They said nope. Paying taxes was like a sin. If you pay taxes you agree with the theft because then it comes out of your pocket.

What happens when we hit 30% unemployment because people can't afford to work. Would you work if you knew you were going to lose your house and car and end up not being able to work in the end? Lot's of people will go down fighting but many more will turn to the underground economy. If taxes are equated to standard of living through the things those taxes are supposed to provide then we are taking a huge step backwards.

Sure the fat cat who is fingered as the point man that stared all this will go to jail for fraud but not a penny will be returned. This isn't just lending fraud it is a fraud on all the people of the world.

The only solution is default and I suspect the Greeks will start it. Canadians have no balls to do what needs to be done.

All we ask is for the people we elect to be truthful, honest and open in their elected positions of running this great province of ours. When they are not they should be out of government now, not at the next election, no pensions and jail time if they mislead the voters. Plain and simple, they represent all the people of BC not themselves or special interest groups. It's time we demand our government to be accountable to those they represent.

Bill Tieleman and Senator Larry Campbell, former Vancouver mayor

Jim Sinclair, Cindy Oliver, Ken Georgetti and Bill Tieleman

Bill Tieleman's coverage of the Basi-Virk/BC Legislature Raid Case praised by other journalists:

"This outstanding piece of journalism, in The Tyee, is the work of a journalist who has been deeply involved with this issue from the start and this article should be passed on as far and wide as possible."

"Bill Tieleman from 24 hours . . . . If you want to know about this trial and about this case, you have to read his blog – I mean, that’s just all there is to it – it’s required reading if you want to understand the BC Legislature Raid situation."

- Mike Smyth, columnist, The Province

"The Basi-Virk case....you’ve probably sat through more of these hearings and gone through more of the files and written about it than any other journalist in the province."

- Bill Good, host, The Bill Good Show, CKNW/Corus Radio Network

"Tieleman ...has done a first-rate job covering the trial."

- Paul Willcocks, columnist, the Victoria Times-Colonist

"Tieleman, who marries a considerable journalistic talent with one of the smartest political minds in the province, has been writing more web-exclusive material. And his coverage of the Basi-Virk trial is a must-read -- whether you're an insider or an outsider."

"24 Hours, the Vancouver paper that has been leading the coverage, as well as the hints of conspiracy in B.C."

- Norman Spector, columnist, Globe and Mail

"Although the major media in this circumstance has been giving the case significant coverage, Tieleman's reports on his blog have been outstanding.

The entire cut and thrust of legal wrangling and arguments has been covered and is accompanied by considered analysis.....His blog site coverage of the Basi-Virk trial is the most in depth treatment of one of British Columbia's biggest political scandals."

- Bill Bell, columnist, The North Shore News

"Mr. Tieleman has published online dispatches which, freed from the limitations of newsprint space or broadcast time, can run at length. They also remain available for those select readers who become obsessed with a case also known as Railgate.....

In another bizarre twist to a story with no shortage of them, Mr. Tieleman went to work one day in December only to discover his office had been ransacked. Bookcases had been tipped over and papers strewn, but nothing was missing.

To top it off, a press kit for the self-published novel The Raid, written by a retired military officer in Metchosin and featuring on its cover a photograph from the 2003 police raid, had been left in a conspicuous place."

- Tom Hawthorn, columnist, The Globe and Mail

Nobody has followed the Basi-Virk affair over its past five years with greater diligence than local journalist, Bill Tieleman....Tieleman deserves our thanks, a fistful of journalism awards and some merit citation for citizenship.